Difference Between Food Poisoning and Gastroenteritis

Medical professionals often use the term gastroenteritis to describe both conditions. The symptoms of food poisoning hit more quickly than those of a stomach virus. While symptoms of a stomach virus can take days to develop, food poisoning symptoms can appear very quickly – within six hours of eating a meal.

1. How do you know it's food poisoning?
2. What are the first signs of gastroenteritis?
3. What are the symptoms of gastroenteritis?
4. How do you rule out gastroenteritis?
5. Should I stay home if I have food poisoning?
6. How quickly does food poisoning kick in?

How do you know it's food poisoning?

Typical symptoms of food poisoning include:

1. stomach or intestinal cramping.
2. fatigue.
3. diarrhea.
4. fever.
5. chills.
6. muscle aches.
7. headaches.
8. sweating.

What are the first signs of gastroenteritis?

Viral gastroenteritis

• Watery, usually nonbloody diarrhea — bloody diarrhea usually means you have a different, more severe infection.
• Abdominal cramps and pain.
• Nausea, vomiting or both.
• Occasional muscle aches or headache.
• Low-grade fever.

What are the symptoms of gastroenteritis?

What are the symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis?

• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Fever (sometimes very high)
• Belly (abdominal) cramping and pain.
• Diarrhea, possibly bloody.
• Dehydration.
• Electrolyte imbalance.

How do you rule out gastroenteritis?

Your doctor will likely diagnose gastroenteritis based on symptoms, a physical exam and sometimes on the presence of similar cases in your community. A rapid stool test can detect rotavirus or norovirus, but there are no quick tests for other viruses that cause gastroenteritis.

Should I stay home if I have food poisoning?

If you have food poisoning, you shouldn't prepare food for other people and you should try to keep contact with vulnerable people, such as the elderly or very young, to a minimum. Stay off work or school until at least 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea.

How quickly does food poisoning kick in?

Symptoms begin 30 minutes to 8 hours after exposure: Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps. Most people also have diarrhea.